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2017 Recommendations: A List of Books I Read in 2017 That You Might Like

Welp, 2017 is already over. Honestly, so much happened last year yet it felt like it just flew by at an incredible speed. I feel totally out of the loop BUT that doesn't keep me from recommending to you some of the books I read last year. I created a similar list last year (Auch dir könnten diese Bücher gefallen) but I do want to re-establish some of the rules I adhered to in my 2016-Recommendations-List:

This isn't a list of all my favorites. Some of the best books I read last year won't be on this list because I don't find them as accessible (or other reasons) but I'll include some books I personally didn't enjoy as much as I could have because I see some inherent value in them which might make them very accessible for someone else.

I try to split these books into different categories to make more sense of the list. Last year I recommended 44 books, this year it's going to be 41 so I really think categories are warranted. But I hope you won't be constrained to specific categories because books usually have a lot of layers which are not adequately represented in only one category. Also, diverse reading is always nice!

I try to include some important information (title, the German title, author, series, if it belongs to a series, length, and my rating), links (to the book's Goodreads page, a more elaborate review of mine, if I have one, and a link to the Amazon page), and a short blurb for each book. So, if you see a book that might interest you, feel free to use all of these resources to broaden your perception of said book. Or simply judge these books by their covers and read the prettiest-looking once. It's really up to you.

These aren't 2017 releases. Well, sure, some of them are but most aren't. My "2017 Recommendations" are simply books I read in 2017, whenever they've been published originally. I'm not really good at reading new releases (although I've been getting better at it since I started watching booktube and, hence, being more up to date on these things).

And that's it! All that is left for me to say is: I hope you enjoy my list, I hope you'll find some books you could be interested in and maybe even a new favorite of your own!

(Also, if you're too impatient to look through this list, I do have a goodreads-shelf dedicated for this which includes most of the following recommendations. But seeing as creating this whole thing takes a lot of work I have to tell you that my list will totally be more aesthetically pleasing and informative and stuff. I hope.)

YA & Middle Grade Fantasy

And I Darken

A fantastic and dark story about a female Vlad the Impaler (Lada), her brother (Radu) and their best friend (Mehmed) who all get tangled up in each others lives while also becoming strong, independent characters all fighting for different causes. If you're in the mood for an epic story (with little actual fantasy-elements), great stubbornness and a kind of fucked-up you don't expect I'd urge you to pick this one up. I have to warn you, though: It will keep you hooked from the first page until you're finished so you better have enough time at hand to read this one without too many interruptions.

The Archived

Series: The Archived

Author: Victoria Schwab

Length: 321 pages, 431 Seiten

My Rating: 4 stars, and 4.5 stars for The Unbound (the second book of The Archived series)

I generally recommend everything by V.E./Victoria Schwab you can get your hands on because she proves herself, over and over, to be an incredible author. Sadly, her Archived series remains unfinished but that shouldn't keep you from picking it up because you'd just miss out on a gripping and powerful story. The setting is unique and amazing, the writing is endearing and beautiful, the story slowly pulls you in (also, I'd totally recommend going into this one blind) and…general amazingness ensues. Especially the second book really, really got me. (Also, in case you're worried about the third book: You shouldn't. The Unbound wraps up nicely and neatly and, while a third book would be amazing, Victoria Schwab, as I understand it, has many a reason not to write it. You can simply treat it as a duology and you'll be fine.)

The Creeping Shadow

Series: Lockwood & Co. (this is the fourth book in this series, though! I didn't recommend this series last year and I only read the fourth one this year so that's why it's on this list. Sorry if I'm making it confusing.)

The Lockwood & Co. series is pretty much everything you want from a middle grade-going-on-young-adult fantasy series: It's got ghosts, London, people who hunt ghosts, humour, amazing and interesting characters, a lot of action, rivalry, friendship, tension, and overarching awesomeness. It's the perfect story for everyone who likes a quick read, action-packed stories, and fun. Incidentally, I just borrowed the fifth book from the library and I'm already super excited to read it!

Yes, I know, I'm really late to this party but, luckily, books don't go bad if you don't read them immediately. Probably, I don't even have to tell you why you should read this because you've already read Percy's stories and you're already in love with him and I'm the weird one for presenting this as a great revelation but in case you haven't heard: the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series is one of the greatest middle grade (also going on young adult) series out there. It has snark, it has monsters, it has gods and demi-gods, it has fighting, it has friendship, and it has Percy-fucking-Jackson. Ladies, Gentleman and People, I rest my case.

Honestly, it doesn't really matter which Terry Pratchett novel you pick up, they are all funny and witty in the best way possible. This wasn't my first Terry Pratchett novel, it definitely won't be my last. But, incidentally, this is the first of the Discworld novels and I have to say that it is a really nice introduction. You get crazy and weird but it's never off-putting, you are introduced to the flying turtle, and you get to meet Rincewind. Basically, it's a whole lotta fun. If you've never read a book by Terry Pratchett do yourself a favor and pick one up.

I refer back to my previous statement where I asserted that I recommend every single V.E./Victoria Schwab book ever and I raise you an amazing (and completed – in case all my reassurances are met with scepticism) trilogy about magicians, badass females in coats, black eyes, pirates, princes, not just one but multiple Londons, absolutely incredible characters, and a plot to die for. I fell head over heels for these books and so should you. Also, the second book is one of the best if not the best second books I've ever read.

This book absolutely blew me away. Looking back, sure it isn't the most believable book but reading it I didn't even have to suspend my disbelief because I was immediately so sucked into the story that I didn't have a chance to think about reality. I was all over this gut-wrenching and devastating narrative. Honestly, this book isn't easy to recommend because it is royally fucked up but I recommend it anyway because it is also absolutely fantastic.

Sharp Objects

So far, this is my favorite book by Gillian Flynn. It is dark and gritty and deeply unsettling. Frankly, I do think you should go into any kind of Horror/Thriller knowing as little as you can so I'm not going to say much more about this but: Do yourself a favor and read it. If you're into dark and twisted tales, if you already know that you like Gillian Flynn, and/or if you want to feel uncomfortable in your own skin then read it.

The Yellow Wall-Paper

I'm not sure exactly when I read this book for the first time but I do know that I read it multiple times this year (I wrote an essay about it) and with every reading I felt like I was able to dive deeper into this story with many additional layers revealing themselves as I went on. The basic plot goes: "A women trapped in a mansion sees a woman trapped behind a hideous yellow wall-paper but is there really another woman? DUN-DUN-DUN" But there is a lot more to this story than this. You should really read it yourself (it's also really short).

You Will Know Me

Megan Abbott is another one of those authors I'd recommend every book of. Her writing is touching and wonderful and it really gets me. But, to be fair, I do think her stories aren't as accessible as some other books I'm recommending here. You need to be on the "right" wave-length otherwise you might not enjoy the writing and the plot might seem frizzly, I think. Obviously, in my case this is anything but true. I absolutely love Megan Abbott's writing, I've loved every book I read by her so far and I can't wait to get my hands on more. This book was breathtaking and it crept into my mind and kept me guessing, kept me feeling.

Adult Fiction

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things

Now, I want to give this particular recommendation rather tenderly. Because it does feature a "love story" between a child and an adult man. It also prominently features abuse. So, if these things sound extremely off-putting to you, you might want to steer clear from this one. If you're still interested in hearing me (and this book) out: It's not what it seems. The title says it all: this story is both ugly and wonderful and it is presented without judgement. You get a lot of different perspectives on the events, the truth, the speculation, the additional opinion and then you are allowed to feel however you want to feel. I would definitely recommend checking this out/doing a little more research whether you're up to checking this one out, no matter how off-putting the basic story sounds.

It Ends With Us

I'm not gonna lie: I was surprised by where this book went and how much it touched me. I hardly knew anything about it (as it should be, I'd advise) but I have heard about Colleen Hoover's other books, which sound more like the stereotypical superficial chick-lit kind of stories? and I was never intrigued to read those. Thus, I didn't really have any kind of expectations going into It Ends With Us but, my god, did it blow me away. I was hooked immediately and I couldn't stop listening to the audiobook.

What I can say about The Reluctant Fundamentalist is that goes to very dark places and pulls you right along with it. In a way, it's very eerie and for the most part you don't know why. Personally, I had some trouble being completely immersed in this book but thinking back on it, I really appreciate what it did. The narrative style is super interesting ("you" are approached by the narrator who shows you around the city) and the ironic twists are something you should have experienced at least once on your own.

The Vegetarian

If you're looking for a book that is unique and strange, look no further! Personally, I pretty much only picked it up because of it's beautiful cover (it's even nicer in person) and was really surprised by where this book went, but I was also very compelled by the story. It is split in three acts and each act explores a different perspective from which the protagonist is observed (the protagonist being the "vegetarian" - I wouldn't describe her eating habits as vegetarian but they are really unusual and that's what the title wants to convey). What this book has is (very disturbing) atmosphere and if you're into that kind of thing (and, again, the strange and unique) you should do yourself a favor and check this one out.

YA Fiction (the devastating kind)

Cracked Up to Be

Forget all about what I said about "go on an judge these books by their covers" because this book is so much better than its cover (which is, unfortunately, quite terrible)! The cover doesn't even come close to representing what this book is. Frankly, this book destroyed me. I was so wrapped up in it and in Parker's (the protagonist) psychology that I even had to take a day off after reading Cracked Up to Be to recover. It is a raw and honest portrayal (of the "popular highschool-bitch"), it is intelligent, and it kept me on the edge of my seat. I would 100% recommend it.

Orbiting Jupiter

An extremely short book that really packs a punch. It's almost a theme going on here (both Cracked Up to Be and Saint Death are fairly short, too). I absolutely adored the writing style and the perspective (the narrator is a young boy who relates how his family adopted another son and how said son deals with the world and his past). Schmidt uses his words extremely efficiently and within the first few pages I already saw coming that I'd have my heart broken (which I did). If you're into that kind of thing, you should let Orbiting Jupiter break your heart too.

Saint Death

This is a short book with great impact. It moves slowly and creeps up on you until you suddenly find yourself crying (at least that's how it happened to me) about the tragic life of a young Mexican boy who tries so hard to escape his life of poverty and stay on the right track. It is educational, it is sad, it is subtle and eerie. It's also the first books I read entirely in the beginning of 2017 and, thus, kicked by reading year off with an amazing, gut-wrenching story - maybe you could kick your 2018 off with it? (wink)

Skippy Dies

This story starts with the title. In the opening scene, Skippy dies. From there on, this book goes on a journey to explore why he dies, what has happened to him, his friends, his teachers. It is always hard to start with the end and still pull off a gripping build-up and aftermath after that but Paul Murray does it beautifully. Also, Skippy Dies somehow manages to be both funny and incredibly sad.

YA Fiction (the fun/funny/romanc-y kind)

Fly on the Wall

E. Lockhart is another author I started loving this year. I've only read two books by her so far (and both of them are fairly short) but I'm in love with her style of writing and how she presents stories and, well, *everything*. Fly on the Wall being the first book by her I read (and also the more lighthearted of the two), in which a girl is turned into a fly in the boy's locker room. (People will tell you that this is the "YA equivalent to The Metamorphosis" but that's not true at all.) Despite what this might sound like, this book has many layers and explores not only the mind of a teenage girl but also the inner workings of boys/men, as well as the relationships between love interests and within family. Also, this book manages to be sad/serious and funny at the same time, which I always appreciate.

Okay, hear me out: I did not enjoy the first book in this series. It was fun and quick but it was waaay to superficial and the characters felt really bland. If it had more action going on I might have overlooked the negative but it hadn't and, thus, the rather low rating. But I gave it another shot (in English, this time round) and I really enjoyed the second book. It wasn't a perfect book but it was so much fun and there was lots of action and stuff happening and spies actually being spies and I can't wait to continue on with this series! (Therefore, I recommend you give it a shot as well.)

A Little Wanting Song

Once again I'd advise you to completely ignore the cover because it's quite hideous even though the story, truly, wasn't. On a basic level, this book was about an outcast-like girl making friends and falling in love. On a not so basic level this book tackles all kinds of relationships: the relationship between friends, between love interests, and between family members - the combination of which I really enjoy. Basically, this is the perfect lazy-summer-day read.

Mystery

Dare Me

I reiterate: Every book by Megan Abbott is amazing. She spills all the ugly truths right into your heart and you can't look away. Her books are obsessed with love - being loved by people, loving people, and other people loving each other - but they are never "fluffy" or cute or anything. Love, as Megan Abbott depicts it, is hard and unforgiving and obsessive. But Dare Me isn't just about love but also about sports and murder and I can't describe how much I liked it. Just go and pick it up (also, don't be confused by the beginning just keep on reading).

The Walls Around Us

This book is, as I've described it in my review, uniquely disturbing. It's extremely eerie, it inspires distrust towards everyone, it's terrifying. The writing was beautiful, the story was unsettling (it's kind of a ghost story, exploring the past and achieving justice), and whenever I started reading time started slipping through my hands and I found myself lost and helpless. I'd definitely recommend checking this one out.

We Were Liars

As I've hinted at above, this is the dark and twisted E. Lockhart book I read this year - and it was amazing. Again, I loved the writing style and how Lockhart structures her narratives (but, as with Megan Abbott, it might not be as accessible as, say, an Ally Carter book). Once more, I want to stress that not knowing anything about this story could be of great advantage because it likes to keep its secrets and reveal itself only gradually to you. Which is why I'll leave it with this: I loved this book and hopefully you'll love it too!

The Most Beautiful

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender

I simply couldn't not create an individual category for this book. It was beautiful in every sense of the word and in every aspect it presented. The writing was stunning, the cover is lovely (it's even prettier in person, trust me) and the story was heart-breakingly magnificent. It's basically the perfect magical realism book: magical all the way through. Also, I'd advise you going into The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender knowing as little as possible. But be prepared to have your heart broken into many, gorgeous pieces.

Funny Books

(These, technically, belong into the "YA & Middle Grade Fantasy" category but I perceive them as being driven by their humor and not by their fantasy aspects.)

Demons at Deadnight

The books in this series are pretty much the funniest stupid books I've ever read. They are absolutely fantastic and I love them and I quote them whenever I can. Wait, let me just quote myself (this is an excerpt from my review for the first book) and say: "I was laugh-crying by page 9 and had decided that I loved Demons at Deadnight by page 20. I annoyed my entire family by continuously bursting into laughter and/or high-pitched laugh-wailing." and that, my dear reader, is the full and unabashed truth. These books aren't great literary works but they are sooooo much fun.

My Lady Jane: The Not Entirely True Story

This is a absolutely delightful book. It is funny in all the right ways and it had an awesome set of characters which will stay with you a long while after you've read this book. If you want to know what this book is about, well, it's the *totally true and uber-secret* story of Lady Jane (who was the British queen for, like, nine days before she was beheaded) told by the most diligent set of authors providing constant, and witty, context and discussion to each situation the protagonists find themselves in. If you like fun and light-heartedness go and read this book or, even better, read this book with a friend and you'll be provided with in-jokes for days.

Graphic Novels & Mangas

The Complete Maus

(What a great transition – from "so funny I cry-laughed" to reflections on WWII. Good job, me.)

You've heard of Maus before, haven't you? Art Spiegelman discussing WWII and his dad's past as a jew surviving the Holocaust? Well, if you have (and haven't read it): what are you doing? GOOoo. If you haven't: now you do so GOOoo and read it! Honestly, though, this graphic novel is fantastic. It's not just about the past but also the present, the relationship between father and son, and the general deterioration (and rebuilding) of life when it is faced with tragedy. It has so many layers and it's so devastating and fantastic. Do yourself a favor and read this one.

Nimona

A heartfelt, sweet, but somehow also pretty dark graphic novel about Nimona the shapeshifter who becomes the apprentice of Lord Blackheart - the villain. While causing serious havoc they not only discover (and try to expose) the wicked ways of the "heroes" Institution, but also discover who they truly are. It starts out real sweet, goes to really dark places, and I only wished it was longer. Not a bad sign, indeed. Also, it's pretty fabulous.

One-Punch Man

This might be the book I have the least to say about. It's interesting, exaggerated, and fun. If you've heard of it: great!, you can go read it now. If you haven't heard of it: it's basically a parody on the typical action-packed manga with a protagonist who is so strong he's able to eliminate every opponent with only one punch and is, thus, real bored. I'm usually not the manga-type (the storytelling doesn't appeal to me, even though I'm trying over and over) but this one I enjoyed.

Persepolis

I guess you've already heard about this book (it's been popular for a while now and it was also one of the Our Shared Shelf picks, I belief) but that doesn't necessarily mean you've also read it. Which, I'm telling you now, you should totally do. It's heartfelt, it's informative, it gives you a new perspective. And I truly think that all these things warrant giving Persepolis a shot.

Seconds

I absolutely adored Seconds. It's not only incredibly pretty but the idea itself is (although, fundamentally, rather old) repackaged into a new and interesting premise, the characters are lovable, the story-arch is masterfully developed and the humor is charming (I really liked the banter between narrator and protagonist – you'll see). Also, did I mention how freaking beautiful this book is? Because it totally is.

Nonfiction

Honestly, I'm kind of disappointed that there aren't any more nonfiction books on this list. I need to remedy that for next year.

You should read this book just to have read it. It's a masterpiece of sorts, it's extremely meticulous, and it narrates true events in a way that makes you forget that they are true. To be fair, it can be hard to concentrate on the book sometimes (so many details are included) but as I pushed on I found myself enjoying it more and more (and more). All I can say is that, from an objective standpoint, you should totally read this book.

Historical Fiction

All the Light We Cannot See

This book is beautiful. It starts with the cover, which is stunning (all those pretty blues), and is present in the entire narrative. The two protagonist represent two opposite sides of WWII, a french blind-girl and a german engineering-boy, which, somehow, interact with each other. The story is told non-linearly, which is extremely engrossing; It sneaks up on you and enwraps you until you've given your heart to these characters which go through hell and back.

Burial Rites

I didn't actually read this book but listened to the audiobook which was great because I'm definitely into all the Icelandic names (being pronounced properly, I think? It sounded properly which is what I liked) and stuff. On a more serious note: this book. The word I'd describe it with is: vicious. The story is constructed almost in a fragile manner, switching between different strands of the narrative, telling the story piece by piece, presenting opportunities, taking away chances, all the time making you care more and more about a protagonist who is supposed to die in the end. Needless to say: you should read/listen to Burial Rites.

Science Fiction:

It's not just nonfiction, I'm more than a bit disappointed that I don't have more SciFi recommendations. I should read more SciFi books in 2018!

Dark Matter

As you might have already guessed from my rating: while I enjoyed it, this wasn't really the book for me but I want to recommend it anyway because I'm sure that there are a lot of people out there who will absolutely fall in love with it. The writing is quite fantastic (I was really into the rather minimalistic approach), and the idea is refreshing and interesting. If you like the idea of the multiverse you'll love this story (or at least like it).

The Illustrated Man

I think this book is best described as: interesting. That sounds kinda bland but it isn't bad at all. The core concept (a man with real future stories illustrated on his body, which come to life and pretty much tell you that humanity is doomed) is amazing and the stories told are fascinating (and also really dark). If you're into science fiction short stories, you totally should check these out.

Honorable Mentions

These are the books that maybe shouldn't really belong on this list because they don't fulfil the meaningful norms I implemented for myself but I did read them this year and I do want to recommend them because they are great! They belong to two categories:

Reread (Because, technically, I've read this one many a times before and my natural instinct is to exclude it from this list but I don't want to.)

The Princess Bride

(Sidenote: How come the majority of the English book covers for The Princess Bride are so unfortunate? This story deserves so much more.) This is one of my all-time favorite books. The first time I read it I was maybe twelve and for a short period of time it became my life (I was even mad at Stephen King, without knowing who he is, because "he stole the sequel" I so desperately needed. I distinctly remember pestering my parents about that.). The next time I read it I did so to read it to my siblings and I fell in love even more with this book. Since then I've read it out loud two more times and I've also watched the movie for the first time (and the second, pretty much right afterwards, and the third as soon as I had opportunity to) and all that is left for me to say is: aaaaaaaaaasss yoouuuuu wiiiissshhh. (& go read it)

Second books in a series I recommended last year (It's kind of cheating because you should already know to read these books but I do want to reiterate that these sequels were particularly fantastic and you should totally read these series.)

I've been gushing about Six of Crown since I've read it in the summer of 2016, I will continue gushing about it as well as Crocked Kingdom (since I've read it) for a long, long time because these books are, hands down, incredible. They have everything you want from a fantasy book: an awesome set of characters, action that makes your heart sing, and amazing world building. They also have what you didn't even know you wanted from a fantasy novel: Heists, and twists, and so much scheming behind even the reader's back that it makes your head spin. This was one of the best books, if not the best book, I've read this year. I'm just saying: Go and read it, now!

This book was so good I literally woke up super early (on my own, without prompting or anything) because I had such a strong urge to continue reading it after I had started in the evening before. Trouble Makes a Comeback wasn't as strong as Trouble Is a Friend of Mine but it held up and made me real excited for the next book in this series (which I've been craving for since I set the second book down).

Aaaannnnd, that's it! Yes, it is done! I really hope you find this helpful (because, frankly, it was waaay too much work) and/or enjoyable, let me know if you do and/or tell me what I can do to make it better in the future.Also, before I go, I quickly want to shout out all of these amazing authors who've done (and hopefully continue to do) amazing work which I (and many other people) adore. It's been an honor reading (and reviewing) these books and I wish you all the best.Happy New Year, I guess, take care, and happy reading.

City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2) by Cassandra ClareBlurb:Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? Clary would love to spend more time with her best friend, Simon. But the Shadowhunters won't let her go--especially her handsome, infuriating newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil--and also her father. When the second of the Mortal Instruments is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor suspects Jace. Could Jace really be willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

Review:"I don't want to be a man," said Jace. "I want to be an angst-ridden teenager who can't confront his own inner demons and takes it out verbally on…